Window simulating toy constructional block



July 17, 1956 A. c. GILBERT Erm. 2,754,620

WINDOW SIMJLTING TOY CONSTRUCTIONAL BLOCK Filed July 2s, 1952 5 SheetsSheet 1 infame-.EE

July 17, l956 A. c. GILBERT ErAL 2,754,620

WINDOW SIMULATING TOY CONSTRUCTIONAL BLOCK ATTORNEY July 17, 1956 A. c. GILBERT ETAL 2,754,620

WINDOW SIMULATING Toy coNsTRuoTloNAr. BLOCK Filed July 25, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORN EY BY a l' V1.

United States Patent O "ice WINDOW SIMULATING TOY CONSTRUCTIOAL BLOCK Alfred C. Gilbert, Hamden, and Charles Ryan, Guilford, Conn., assignors to The A. C. Gilbert Company, New Haven, Conn., a corporation of Maryland Application July 23, 1952, Serial No. 300,561

9 Claims. (Cl. 46-24) This invention relates to toy constructional blocks of the kind commonly merchandised in packaged sets and designed to be piled by young children into minature representations of building structures.

One object of the invention is to provide toy building blocks in miniature sizes simulating natural or artificial stone equipped with window imitating structure adapted to cause the exterior surface of a toy building constructed of such blocks to appear to contain glass window panes with shiny metallic mullions and Window casing typical of modern residential and industrial buildings more realistically than is possible to mere painting, printing or coating treatments of the block surface.

A related object is to incorporate the window simulating feature in a toy building in such manner that it does not interfere with or become impaired by laying or rubbing one block against another in play.

A still further object is to provide a set of window simulating blocks which by being piled together in selectively different relationships can cause some blocks to exhibit and other blocks to conceal the psuedo wndow feature.

Another object is to provide a window imitating feature in the form of a physical appliqu which is capable of being fashioned in a variety of patterns all of which may be applicable equally well to the same uniform size and shape of building block.

These and related objects of the invention will appear from the following description of preferred embodiments, such description having reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l shows an industrial type of toy building structure made by piling together improved toy building blocks embodying the present invention,

Fig. 2 shows the blocks in preferred actual size piled into the representation of a residential type of toy building.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective View of one of the blocks drawn on an enlarged scale showing one face thereof equipped with a window imitating appliqu incorporating the present improvements.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a complete block drawn on a smaller scale than in Fig. 3 showing the appliqu peeled partly away from the block to exhibit its structure, the panel borders being lined for the color green.

Fig. 5 is a broadside elevation of the block of Fig. 4 drawn on a still smaller scale. i

Fig. 6 is a view taken in section on the plane 6--6 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 shows a block of the same size and shape as in Fig. 5 equipped with an appliqu of different pattern.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view taken on the plane 8 8 in Fig. 7.

It has heretofore been proposed to mark representations of windows, door, etc. on toy building blocks by printing, painting or coating the surface of the block, but this has not succeeded in producing a convincingly v2,754,620 Patented July 17, 1956 realistic appearance of glass Windows which appearance depends upon light reflecting characteristics.

We have discovered that surprising realism results from using an appliqu comprising a thin appliqu panel of sheet material having a highly lustrous face and embossed in a manner to delineate one or more mirror-like rectangular panes standing in relief and capable of reflecting light and images and bordered by one or more relatively sunken or relatively depressed substantially less reflective of light and preferably cast at least partially in shade beside the upstanding brilliantly reective rectangular panes. It is found that lustrous metallic foil of silvery color has light reiiecting characteristics productive of this result when fashioned by embossing it into contours of relatively elevated relatively depressed area and when applied to the recessed surface of a toy building as hereinafter set forth, and that added features of embossing will cause it to simulate shiny metallic mullions and win-` dow casings realistically.

An example of toy building blocks equipped withf. pseudo window structure in accordance with this invention is shown in Figs. 3 through 6. The body 12 of thev block is made of any suitable preferably non warpablesolid substance which may incorporate a filler of WhitingV and very line sawdust with a binder of light coloredx derivative of coal tar compacted to desired shape under very high pressure without heating so as to be virtuallyr waterproof and flame-proof and produce the surface ap pearance of masonry and the preferably pleasant feel'. of polished marble. It should be of a composition that will not crack, chip, crumble or shatter by impact of' block against block. It is also preferred that the blocks have surfaces so smooth and impervious that they can be cleaned thoroughly with a damp cloth and remain unaffected by moisture. In a packaged assortment of such blocks, as commonly merchaudised, there will be a variety of shapes and sizes of the blocks that are made use of in toy building structures such as shown in Figs. l and 2.

A preponderance of the blocks may be of a shape and size such as the blocks 12 which conveniently are 2" long by l wide by 1/2 thick. The block surfaces that measures 1 by 2 may be termed broadside faces 0f the blocks. At least one of such flat broadside faces, 14, of each block has a surface 16 depressed or sunk into the block to a level below the marginal ridge 14 thus forming a shallow recess 18.

ln recess 18 there is secured to the depressed surface 16 an appliqu panel 20 which may take various structural forms` A preferred form of appliqu for the purposes of this invention comprises a thin panel of flexible sheet material having a highly lustrous face and embossed in a manner to delineate a plurality of mirror like rectangular planes 22 elevated above the level of the depressed block surface 16 to a less height than the depth of recess 18. The appliqu panel 20 can be cemented to the block.

Preferably the appliqu panel comprises a sheet of foil 24 having high metallic surface lustre of silvery color bonded in any suitable way to the block surface 16 and bordered by the relatively higher marginal ridge 14 of the block. In the particular form herein shown the appliqu panel 20 comprises a laminate sheet including a lamina 24 of metallic foil which is opaque and a lamina 26 of paper, embossed while in face to face contact and in unison with the foil in a manner to remain bonded in over-all face to face contact therewith. The paper lamina 26 may be gurnmed on its exposed face, opposite the foil, with an adhesive which when moistened will cause the appliqu panel to adhere firmly when applied to the block surface 16 within the recess 18. The appliqu panel does not interfere with the sliding of one block against the other and is protected against damage by abrasion in play because as shown in Figs. 6 and 8 no part of the appliqu rises as high as the broadside face 14 of the block. Lamina 26 can be cemented to lamina 24 by an adhesive.

Among the many patterns which may be imparted to an appliqu for the foregoing novel purpose is a plurality of raised rectangular planes 22 separated and bordered by relatively depressed narrow channels 23 that are substantially less reflective of light than are the brilliantly reflective planes 22, The former are thereby cast into contrasting shadow by their sunken relationship to the adjoining surfaces of the foil and to the brilliantly lustrous rectangular metallic planes. At least some of the depressed shadowed channels 2S are separated by a lattice 31 of elevated narrow cross bars embossed in the appliqu to the height level of the highlights 22 simulating shiny metallic mullions extending the full length and breadth of the appliqu and framed by like embossed bars or ribs 33 simulating a shiny metallic window case.

It is found effective to accent two of the angularly related channels 28 by embossing a ridge 30 therein and therealong more narrow than the channel, and it is found to increase the shadow effect of the sunken portions of channel 28 by printing thereon a reflection dimming coating 32 of suitable color such as dark green. Figs. 7 and 8 show a means of increasing realism of resemblance to the typical appearance of glass window panes by depressing closely spaced oblique parallel grooves 34 in the highlights 22.

Fig. 7 shows features of the invention applied in a manner to produce a glass pane effect in a pseudo door, instead of window. Thus a quantity of the blocks can be provided on one broadside face with the appliqu Z of Fig. and on the opposite broadside face with a different appliqu panel 20 as that in Fig. 7. Preferably, however, one broadside face of each block will be left blank so that a choice can always be had of placing blocks in a manner to represent a window by having its appliqu turned outward, or represent part of a bare wall of the building structure by having its blank face turned outward.

Various modifications of the particular structures herein disclosed will be suggested to those skilled in the art by the disclosure hereof, wherefore the following claims are directed to and intended to cover all substitutes for and equivalents of the particular elements and arrangements herein set forth that fairly come within a broad interpretation of the wording of the claims.

We claim:

1. A toy constructional piece for simulating metal encased glass window panes set in a masonry wall, comprising in combination, a toy building block prefabricated to posses a surface of masonry appearance contoured to form a marginal ridge bordering a relatively depressed area of the block surface, an appliqu panel of thin sheet material secured against said depressed area of the block surface having a silvery front face sufficiently lustrous to brightly reflect light images, said panel being embossed to delineate in substantially equal height of bas relief a plurality of bare rectangular highly reflective planes and to delineate also a framing of narrow ribs possessing light reflective ability similar to that of said planes flanking and spaced from the latter by depressed narrow channels, wherefore to cast said narrow channels into seeming shadow and cause said planes to simulate window glass encased in metallic framing set in masonry.

2. A toy constructional piece as defined in claim l, together with a straight narrow ridge raised in at least some of the said channels in a manner to reflect a line of highlight lengthwise thereof.

3. A toy constructional piece as defined in claim l, together with an embossed lattice of elevated narrow cross ribs separating the said channels and extending from one side of the said rib framing to the opposite side thereof in a manner to simulate metallic window mullions.

4. A toy constructional piece as defined in claim 1, in which the said lustrous front face of the said appliqu panel in the said channels is faced with a reflection dimming coating.

5. A toy constructional piece as defined in claim 4, together with a straight narrow ridge raised in at least some of the said channels in a manner to reflect a line of highlight lengthwise thereof.

6. A toy constructional piece for simulating metal encased glass window panes set in a masonry wall, comprising in combination, a toy building block prefabricated to possess a surface of masonry appearance contoured to form a marginal ridge bordering a relatively depressed area of the block surface, an appliqu panel of thin sheet material secured against said depressed area of the block surface having a silvery front face sufliciently lustrous to brightly reflect light images, said panel being embossed to delineate in substantially equal height of bas relief a plurality of bare rectangular highly reflective planes and to delineate also a framing of narrow ribs possessing light reflective ability similar to that of said planes flanking and spaced from the latter by depressed narrow channels, together with a reflection dimming coating on said highly lustrous face of said sheet material in said depressed channels casting the same into seeming shadow, wherefore to cause said planes to simulate window glass encased in metallic framing set in masonry.

7. A toy constructional piece as defined in claim 6, in which the said appliqu panel comprises a sheet of foil having high metallic lustre.

8. A toy constructional piece as defined in claim 6, in which the said appliqu panel comprises a metallic foil secured to the said depressed area of the block.

9. A toy constructional piece as defined in claim 6, in which the said appliqu panel comprises a sheet of foil having an exposed surface of high metallic lustre indented in narrow straight oblique parallel lines to enhance the characteristic appearance of light reflection from a window pane.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 368,245 Schumacher Aug. 16, 1887 467,268 Welling Jan. 19, 1892 1,403,196 Rasely Jan. 10, 1922 1,629,199 Bosslet May 17, 1927 1,736,134 Rutherford Nov. 19, 1929 1,977,960 Weindel Oct. 23, 1934 2,202,956 Lee lune 4, 1940 2,246,122 Brennan .lune 17, 1941 

